5 Finger Socks With Strategic Merino Wool Absorbent In Toe Sections

ABSTRACT

The invention describes an improved five finger sock. By keeping the toes separated, the design minimizes the amount of odor, bacterial and fungal buildup in the areas between the toes. The sock is also characterized by having a merino wool absorbent strategically targeted to the toe section for added benefits. The strategic targeting is an improvement upon existing merino wool fabric designs.

FIELD OF INVENTION

In general, the present invention relates to socks technology, and in particular a five finger sock which provides for a strategic merino wool absorbent in the toe sections.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Ser. No. 10/492,543B2: Heated socks used to keep a wearer's feet and toes warm. The heated socks include pockets for oxygen-activated chemical heating pouches which generate heat when exposed to air and via friction caused by the wearer when walking, jumping, or other activities and distributed through the sock from toe to ankle to heel. The heated socks are provided with extra cushioning on the bottom of the feet to aid in comfort for the wearer. The heated socks also keep the feet dry from moisture and perspiration.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,755A: The knitted clothing article has a nonfeltable base mesh layer. On the outside surface of said base mesh layer a yarn layer is knitted in a said base mesh and consisting of feltable textile fibres and forming loop pile meshes. Due to the interaction of the inner base mesh layer with the outer plush layer, a climatic zone is built up that, especially in sports clothing, hosiery and health clothing, assures a good moisture removal and an agreeable body temperature.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,856,969B2: Garments are provided that include feltable fibers in selected areas to provide high durability. Garments are manufactured with feltable fibers is selected areas, such as high wear or high impact areas, and are then subjected to the felting (or fulling) process to produce a garment having partially felted fibers on the selected areas. Such a garment may be a sock with felted areas selected in the heel and toe areas. Such socks have enhanced resistance to wear in these high wear areas, and therefore are useable for longer periods of time for the user of the sock.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,049,889B2: A protective half sock for use in multi-stage recovery includes a sock body constructed of a rib knit with Terry cushion, and a knitted posterior welt configured with the sock body and defining a rear opening for insertion of a limb. The sock body may be constructed of a 3×1 rib knit with Terry cushion. The knitted posterior welt may be formed by a 1×1 rib knit. The half-sock includes wool fibers, polyester-coated elastomeric fibers, polyester fibers, and nylon fibers. The cross stretch of the welt is less than the cross stretch of the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unlike synthetics which are industrially produced from non-renewable fossil energy, Merino wool is a natural fibre grown year-round by Merino sheep, consuming a simple blend of natural ingredients including sunshine, water, fresh air and grass. Every year these sheep produce new fleece, making wool a completely renewable fibre.

Arguably the oldest-known animal fibre, wool is composed of a natural protein called keratin—the same protein found in human hair—with a small amount of calcium, sodium and fat. The surface of each fibre is covered in scales, which are important in making felts and traditional woollen cloths.

Not all wool is the same. Some wool is softer than cashmere, while others are hardier and more resilient, suitable for carpets and bedding. Wool can be divided into three main categories, based on the micron (diameter) of each fibre. One micron is equal to one millionth of a metre and fibre length is recorded in millimetres—these are the main measurements which determine the quality and use of the wool.

-   1. Fine: Wool with the finest micron comes from Merino sheep and is     used for high-quality, soft-handling fabrics and knitting yarns.     Fine wool is highly valued by the world's leading fashion houses and     is the hero ingredient of many Woolmark collaborations. -   2. Medium: Medium micron wool can be produced from a type of Merino     or produced by crossing one breed with another (crossbreeding).     Medium wools are used in a variety of woven apparel cloths, knitting     yarns and furnishings. -   3. Broad: Many different sheep breeds produce broader wools. Often     these breeds are known as dual-purpose breeds because they are     farmed with equal emphasis on meat and wool. Broad wool is useful     for products such as carpets because of its strength and durability

The average micron of human hair is between 50 to 100 micron. Merino wool is generally less than 22 micron, which shows just how soft this premium fibre is. Merino wool has two very important properties, that would make it suitable for the current invention:

-   i. Odour resistant: In contrast to synthetics, Merino wool can     absorb moisture vapour which means less sweat on your body. Merino     wool even absorbs the odour molecules from sweat, which are only     released upon washing. -   ii. Soft on skin: Merino wool fibres are extremely fine, enabling     them to bend far more than traditional, coarser wool fibres. This     makes Merino wool feel soft and luxuriously gentle next to your     skin.

This disclosure presents a five-finger toe sock which provides for a five finger sock which provides for a strategic merino wool absorbent in the toe sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is an explanation of some of the general inventive steps for the system, method, architecture and tools in the description. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and does not intend to limit the scope beyond what is described and claimed as a summary.

The current disclosure is an improvement to five finger sock technology. In the view of disclosed prior art, the current disclosure provides for a sock that has strategically placed merino wool fabric material in between each toe in a five finger sock and is both novel and inventive, and provides a solution to a real problem. Presently, there are socks available that provide support and or constriction at various points depending on the customers preference, some having merino wool as a constituent material. However, none of them has been able to combine the benefits of merino wool without the cost implications by using the current technique.

These targeted merino wool absorbent combined with a 5 finger sock to serves to increase the benefits of improved movement to each toe. The technique also has the advantages of great moisture absorption in the toe section, and is resistant to staining, and odor due to the natural properties of the merino wool fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 of the diagrams illustrates a first embodiment of a five finger sock in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2 of the diagrams is an illustration of another embodiment of a five finger sock with strategically placed merino wool fabric material in between each toe in a five finger sock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the first embodiment according to FIG. 1 of the diagrams, it is illustrated a five finger sock in accordance with this disclosure. The diagram illustrates a sock body 1 with a five toe design. By keeping the toes separate, the design minimizes the amount of odor, bacterial and fungal buildup in the areas between the toes labeled 3. The sock is also characterized by am absorbent strategically targeted to the toe section 2 for added benefits. The strategic targeting is an improvement upon existing merino wool designs. Generally, the use of absorbent material in a sock is very useful in keeping the feet moist free and thus minimize the possibility of microbial growth. Merino wool has antimicrobial properties, as the natural lanolin in the sheep's wool repels odor-causing bacteria. Since merino wool manages moisture so well, there is no wet environment for that bacteria to grow.

When converted into fibre, merino wool is known to have very high absorbent/wicking properties, much more that common materials such as cotton. In addition to this, a sock made of the material exhibits very good characteristics such as resistance to microbial growth, odor, mould and these effects last for a long time. However, the material is quite expensive. By selectively targeting the construction of a sock, the current invention seeks to maximize the benefits of merino wool while reducing the sock price to make it available to general users.

In a second and final embodiment according to FIG. 2 of the diagrams is an illustration of a five finger sock in accordance with this disclosure, demonstrating a toe section with strategically placed merino wool absorbent materials in the areas between the toe sections labeled 3. The targeted merino wool absorbent combined with a 5 finger sock to serves to increase the benefits of improved movement to each toe. The targeted zone 3 may encompass the area in between the toes or the entire toe construction. As the toes of a wearer sweat, the merino wool absorbent is able to wick the moisture away from the toes section than the surrounding portions of the sock, which would not necessarily be as prone to sweating. The technique also has the advantages of great moisture absorption in the toe section, and creates a toe section that is resistant to staining and odor due to the natural properties of the merino wool fabric. The overall benefit is a sock with better properties than prior art.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention is applicable in the fabric industry, and specifically the design and manufacture of socks. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved five finger sock with a strategic absorbent in the toe section made of merino wool and characterized in that the rest of the sock material is made from other material other than merino wool.
 2. The sock in claim 1, wherein the merino wool absorbent material constitutes the entity of each toe section.
 3. The sock in claim 1, further characterized in that the overall odor resistance, antibacterial and moisture absorption characteristic is enhanced at the section between the toes.
 4. A method of providing an improved sock with a strategic absorbent, the method comprised of: providing a different construction in the section between the toes of a five finger sock, and; providing a special merino wool absorbent material in the said toe section of a five finger sock;
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the strategic absorbent material provided in the section between toes of a five finger sock is wool 